Statewide anti-ICE rallies spread to Huntington Beach

Surf City event, one of 60 protests, is free of violence despite tense moments.

- BY HAYLEY SMITH

Photographs by KAYLA BARTKOWSKI Los Angeles Times

HUNTINGTON BEACH resident Viviana Aviles, right, joins about 300 protesters Sunday after a fatal shooting sparked widespread anger.

More than 60 largely peaceful protests took place over the weekend against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions, including several in Southern California.

But although many protests were without incident, they were not short on anger and moments of tension. Organizers called the gatherings the "ICE Out for Good" weekend of action in response to the fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis.

In Huntington Beach, Ron Duplantis, 72, carried a diagram to represent the three shots fired at Good, including one through her windshield and two others that appeared to go through her side window.

"Those last two shots," he said, "make it clear to me that this is murder."

Huntington Beach has seen past clashes between Trump supporters and antiracism activists, but Sunday's protest, though tense at times, was free of violence. About 300 people more than two dozen counter protesters side City Hall, with demonstrators carrying anti-ICE signs, ringing cowbells and chanting "ICE out of O.C."

As cars sped past them on Main Street, many motorists honked in a show of solidarity, while some rolled down their windows to shout their support for ICE, MAGA and President Trump.

"The reason why I'm here is democracy," said Mary Artesani, a 69-year-old Costa Mesa resident carrying a sign that read "RESIST." "They have to remember he won't be in office forever."